• Premier League

FA to investigate West Ham chants

Harry Harris and ESPN staff
November 26, 2012

The FA has told ESPN it will investigate anti-Semitic chanting by West Ham fans during the club's 3-1 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday.

Throughout the 90 minutes, sections of the visiting support at White Hart Lane aimed chants that were either anti-Semitic or goaded their home counterparts about violent attacks on some Spurs fans before the club's Europa League game against Lazio in Rome last week.

They made hissing sounds early in the first half - a reference to the gassing of Jews in concentration camps during the Second World War - and chants of "Adolf Hitler's coming for you" were heard.

The FA has vowed to clamp down on racism and prejudice in football, and is likely to attempt to reach a swift verdict in this case.

In a statement, West Ham said they would be helping with investigations into what had happened.

The statement added: "West Ham United will take the strongest possible action against any of their supporters, including enforcing life bans from the club, found guilty of behaviour which is categorically not condoned by West Ham United.

"During the 46 games in the Championship last season, West Ham United had zero arrests for racism or violence, so while we are surprised to see such reports we will examine any available evidence of such conduct thoroughly and take the appropriate action."

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